High density recording and reproduction system and method

ABSTRACT

High density recording systems and methods are disclosed which employ a radiation beam to form spot-like recordings in record members such as discs, tapes and cards. The angle, offset or cross-sectional shape of the recording beam can be varied so as to vary the angle, offset or shape of the corresponding recordings in the record member. The recorded information can be electro-optically or magnetically detected and discriminated from each other to provide high density recordings of alpha-numeric characters or digital data. Enhanced detection scanning is effected by ultrasonically vibrating the laser or an optical element, such as a prism or mirror receiving the reading light beam, in a manner to cause it to scan back and forth laterally to the record track as a longitudinal scanning movement is effected parallel to the longitudinal axis or centerline of the track. The reflected light is detected, computer processed and analyzed to effect proper detection of the recordings to generate correct data therefrom.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 013,127 filedFeb. 10, 1987 and now abandoned, as a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.815,933 filed Jan. 3, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,705, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 405,996, filed Aug. 6, 1982, now U.S.Pat. No. 4,578,717.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is in the field of recording and reproduction apparatusand methods for effecting high density bit type recordings on recordmembers such as cards, tapes and discs. Recording densities aresubstantially enhanced by varying either the angles of elongatedmagnetic or electro-optically scannable recordings provided at selectrecording locations of a record track or variably shaping anddiscriminating, upon reproduction thereof, the configurations of the bitrecordings along a record track of a record member.

2. The Prior Art

The prior art consists of magnetic recording systems in which atransducer effects the recording of magnetic domains along a recordtrack of a magnetic recording material, wherein each of the domains soformed extends in a given direction. In the case of electro-opticallyscannable recordings, such have been provided in the configuration ofelongated pits or cavities which extend parallel to the recording axisof the record track and/or directly therealong.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for transducinginformation with respect to select tracks of a record member, such as arecord card, tape or disc, and particularly to improvements in apparatusfor recording on and reading same employing magnetic and/orradiation-electro-optical recording and reading means.

In conventional recording employing a magnetic recording member, such asa tape, disc or card, or a member which is radiation sensitive, bitrecordings of information are effected by either magnetic domains whichare formed parallel to each other by magnetic fields generated acrossthe recording gap of magnetic recording transducer or, in the case ofoptical recordings, by pulsing a laser beam directed at a record trackof a record member, in a manner to vaporize and form an elongated cavityor pit extending parallel to the record track. Such domains or cavitiesare provided at spaced-apart locations of the record track of the recordmember and each defines a bit or pulse recording which extends at thesame angle to the record track as the other bit or pulse recordings toprovide, for example, the binary notations "0" or "1". The result is abinary-type series of recordings extending longitudinally along therecord track, each of which bit or pulse recordings defines a particularprogram or information recorded in coded digital form. Such digitalrecordings are provided as discrete magnetic domains, elongated cavitiesor otherwise formed electro-optically scannable spots when the recordingtransducer is pulsed and its magnetic field or radiation is aligned withthe record track along which the recording is effected. Such signalrecording is effected in a manner whereby recording densities of between20,000 and 40,000 bits per inch may be achieved without difficultyutilizing magnetic transducers of conventional design.

The instant invention provides means for substantially increasing suchrecording density by what is termed herein as "overlap-recording", aprocess in which two or more recordings of data, such as digital data,are provided along the same length of the same record track or alongvery closely spaced record tracks with very little, if any, guard bandareas therebetween, wherein each recording is composed of respectivelongitudinal arrays of parallel magnetic domains or elongated cavitieswhich overlap or extend close to the domains or cavities of the otherrecordings. By differently angling and/or overlapping the magneticdomains or elongated cavities of each recording, they may be separatelydiscriminated by a suitable similarly angled magnetic pick-up or asuitable electro-optical detector or series of detectors, thus providingtwo ore more different recordings along the same length of record track.

Accordingly it is a primary object of this invention to provide new andimproved recording systems and methods for recording two or morerecordings along the same length of the same track of a record member.

Another object is to provide a recording system and method employing oneor more recording and/or reproduction transducers which may becontrollably pivoted about their central axes to selectively align themwith a select track of a record member so as to selectively record alongand/or read from such select track.

Another object is to provide a new and improved high densityelectro-optical recording and reproduction system and method employingrecordings of code or byte-defining information in the form ofmicrominiature indicia of substantially the same scale or size butdifferent in shape.

Another object is to provide a high density electro-optical recordingand reproduction system and method employing recordings of code orbyte-defining information defined by microminiature narrow elongatedindicia which vary in orientation with respect to the axis of a recordtrack wherein the specific orientation of each indicia, when detected,is an indication of a specific or select byte of data or code.

Another object is to provide a high density electro-optical recordingand reproduction system which has a substantially greater recordingdensity than the density of conventional pulsed laser beam recordingmethods.

Another object is to provide a high density electro-optical recordingarrangement employing means for recording indicia of different selectshapes.

Another object is to provide a high density electro-optical recordingarrangement for recording spot-like areas of the same shape butdifferently oriented.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter morefully appear, the invention consists of the novel constructions,combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understoodthat changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fallwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a modified magnetic transducer assemblyincluding a disc or drum for supporting one or more magnetic transducersfor use in recording on and/or reproducing from a magnetic record tapeor a cylindrically deformed magnetic record card.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the transducer assembly of FIG. 1 with thetransducer rotated to provide the azimuth or angle of its gap at adiscrete and select angle to that of the gap of the transducer of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a side view with parts broken away for clarity of a transducerassembly of the type employed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a magnetic disc drive employing a pivotabletransducer assembly of the type illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the magnetic disc and drive assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a face or plan view of the gap-containing end of a portion ofa magnetic head assembly showing two magnetic transducers disposed atright angles to each other and operable to scan and transduce withrespect to the same track of a magnetic record member.

FIG. 7 is a face view of the gap-containing end of a portion of amagnetic head assembly showing two magnetic transducers, with therecording gap of each transducer being azimuthed or angulateddifferently with respect to a single record track of a record member,and where such transducers simultaneously scan and transduce informationalong the record track.

FIG. 8 is an end or face view of the gap-containing end of a magnetichead assembly having three magnetic transducers which are closely spacedwith their recording-reproduction gaps aligned to scan the same recordtrack of a magnetic record member, but each angulated differently fromthe others.

FIG. 9 is an end or face view of the gap-containing end of a portion ofa magnetic head assembly having two transducers which are offset orstaggered with respect to each other, wherein each has a different gapangle for providing magnetic recordings or domains which overlap eachother along the same record track.

FIG. 10 is an end or face view of a magnetic head assembly having aplurality of aligned magnetic transducers, each with a different gapazimuth for recording and reproducing a plurality of different digitalrecordings along the same length of the same record track of a magneticrecord member.

FIG. 11 is a greatly magnified view of a portion of a magnetic recordmember showing a portion of a single record track thereof and magneticdomains defining pulse recordings of different information recordedalong the same section of track, wherein the domains of one recordinghave an azimuth or azimuths different from the domains of the otherrecording, and wherein certain of the domains of one recording overlaprespective domains of the other recording.

FIG. 12 is a view of a portion of a magnetic record member showingmagnetic domains of one recording partially overlapping the domains ofanother recording along the same track.

FIG. 13 is a face view of a magnetic recording at a select location of amagnetic record member which recording is formed of four magneticdomains, each at an azimuth or longitudinal angle which is differentfrom that of the others a degree such that each may be separatelydetected.

FIG. 14 is an end or face view of a portion of a magnetic head assemblyshowing two closely spaced magnetic transducers with pole gapsconstructed to provide recordings in the form of magnetic domains whichare differently aligned as a result of differently orienting such polegaps.

FIG. 15 is a face view of a portion of a magnetic head having twoclosely spaced magnetic transducers, one for recording and the other forreproducing digital magnetic signals and applicable to the transducerarrangements illustrated in others of the drawings.

FIG. 16, s a partial side view with schematic representations of anelectro-optical recording and reading arrangement employing a laser forscanning a rotating disc record member.

In FIGS. 1 to 3 are shown details of a magnetic recording andreproduction apparatus which is capable of recording digital recordsignals, such as audio, video or computer generated signals alongparallel tracks of a flexible magnetic tape, card, disc or drum asrelative movement is effected between a stationary or rotating head orheads and a magnetic recording member, such as a tape which is drivenaround the peripheral surface of the drum or disc as it rotates or alongparallel tracks of a cylindrically deformed magnetic record againstwhich the disc or drum rotates. Conventional magnetic bit or pulse coderecording is effected by energizing a magnetic field to beintermittently generated across the recording gap of the transducer inthe vicinity of the surface of the magnetic recording member andgenerating such pulse recordings as a multitude of closely spacedmagnetic domains, the longitudinal axes of which extend parallel to eachother at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the track ofthe record member, which angle depends upon the angle of the gap of thetransducer.

To further increase recording density in such a magnetic recordingarrangement, means are provided in FIGS. 1 to 3 for effecting two ormore information or data recordings, such as programs or respectivestreams of data, along the same length of magnetic record track of amagnetic card, tape, disc or drum, using an apparatus having a magneticrecording transducer or transducers which are modified to permit therecording and/or reproduction head or heads or the operating endscontaining the field gaps thereof, to be power pivoted or rotatedbetween two or more different angular positions. At each angularposition the recording head may record information in digital or pulseform by providing respective magnetic domains which are substantiallysimilarly angled for each recording or program but which are differentlyangled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the record track thanother data recordings provided therealong, such as other streams of dataor programs which may be simultaneously or sequentially recorded alongthe same track. By similarly pivoting and aligning a magnetic transducerutilized to reproduce from a selected recording or program from a recordtrack containing a number of different recordings or programs which arerespectively defined by respective groups of magnetic domains recordedwith their axes extending in the same direction or parallel to eachother, such reproduction transducer Will sense only one of such multiplerecordings [e.g.--that with which its pole pieces are properly aligned]to the exclusion of the other recordings therealong which have magneticdomains extending at an angle or angles to the longitudinal axis of themagnetic domains of the selected recording. Each of the multiplerecordings is thus rendered discrete from the others depending upon theangle of which its domains or bit recordings extend with respect to theaxis of the record track. Such technique may be utilized to provide ameans for substantially increasing the total amount of data which isrecorded on a single magnetic record member, such as a magnetic tape,rigid or flexible disc, magnetic card, drum or the like.

In FIG. 1, a magnetic recording apparatus 10 includes an assembly 11including a drum or disc-shaped support 12 which has one or moremagnetic transducers 17 supported thereby. The transducer or transducersare shown as both rotatable about an axis and projectable in thedirection of such axis from the peripheral surface 13 of the disc ordrum 12, in a manner to permit the operating end of the transducer toengage or become disposed in close operable relationship with a magneticrecord or tape as the support 12 is power rotated. Each transducer 17 ispivotally rotatable about an axis which extends radially with respect tothe drum or disc 12 to permit either or both the magnetic recording andreproduction of two or more discrete recordings of data or programsalong the same length of the same record track. Each recording orprogram is defined by magnetic domains, the axes of which extendparallel to each other or are similarly angled with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the track. Such domains are differently angled withrespect to the domains of one or more other recordings or programsextending along the same track length, each of which is recorded by thesame or different magnetic recording heads during recording operationswhen the magnetic pole pieces thereof are at respective select angleswith respect to the direction or longitudinal axis of the record trackof the magnetic recording member. As such, the differently angled domainrecordings permit the selective reproduction of each of such recordingsto the exclusion of and without interference from the other one or moreprogram recordings.

In FIG. 1, a cylindrical bore 14 is provided in the body of the disc ordrum shaped housing 12, which bore extends to the peripheral surface 13of the peripheral wall of the disc shaped housing 12. Force fittedwithin such bore 14 is an elongated cylindrical housing 16 forming partof an assembly 15 which includes a magnetic transducer 17 and aplurality of actuators or motors for both pivotally and axially drivingthe transducer or transducers 17 thereof to permit its gap angle to beselectively changed and the transducer or transducers to be engagedagainst or operatively close to the surface of a magnetic record member.

Transducer 17 may comprise either a magnetic recording or reproductionhead or both, depending on the manner in which its induction coil orcoils are wired and extend. The operating end 18 of the magnetictransducer 17 consists of a convention pole piece assembly which hasbeen pivoted counterclockwise, as viewed, and is shown angled 45° to aplane passing through the central axis of the transducer and the centerof the circular record track of the record member being scanned.

In FIG. 2, the transducer 17 is shown rotated and positioned at rightangles to the position shown in FIG. 1 or 45° to the other side of thedescribed plane. As a result the transducer 17 can record or reproduceinformation defined by magnetic domains which extend at right angles tothe direction of the domain defined by the recordings effected by thetransducer when in the position shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows details of the transducer 17 and its positioning means,which comprise a miniature push-pull solenoid or lineal actuator 19 anda rotary solenoid 20. The solenoid 19 is secured or force fitted in afirst bore 22 defining part of the interior volume 21 of the elongatedcylindrical housing 16. The stepped cylindrical wall of the solenoidhousing conforms to the surface 22 of the bore 21, while the lowerportion of the side wall of such lineal solenoid conforms to lower wallsurface 23 having a reduced diameter at the end of the bore. A rotarysolenoid or stepping motor is secured to the output shaft 19S of thesolenoid 19 and its housing 20H is slidably engaged with the cylindricalbore 23 to permit it to move longitudinally therethrough as solenoidshaft 19S is actuated. The magnetic transducer or head 17 is secured tothe power rotated output shaft 20S of the rotary solenoid or motor 20and extends through an opening 25 in the end wall 24 of the elongatedhousing 16. Shaft 19S of solenoid 19 is preferably assembled andconstructed to prevent its rotation so that the only rotation which canbe imparted to the transducer 17 is that which results from rotation ofthe output shaft of rotary solenoid 20.

Notation 26 refers to a slack flexible conducting cable extending fromthe operating element or coils of the transducer 17 to solenoid housing20H. Notation 27 refers to a second flexible cable containing the wireof cable 26 plus wires connected to the energizing input of the rotarysolenoid 20 and extending therebetween and the housing for the linealsolenoid 19. A third electrical cable 28 extends from the solenoid 19 tosuitable commutating means located near the center of the drum ordisc-shaped housing 12 and contains all of the above described wiresplus wires connected to the energizing input of solenoid 19.

The transducer support and actuator assembly 15 may be modified,depending on transducing and scanning requirements. For example, theentire assembly 15 or the head 17 may be supported to permit the head tofloat or to be retained 0.000241 or so away from the record member bythe Bernouli effect, thus precluding the need for a lineal actuator ofthe type described. Air may also be forced from the interior of thehousing 16 through a passageway in or between the transducer 17 and theopening 25 in the end wall 24 of the housing to provide such a gapbetween the end 18 of the transducer 17 and the flexible or rigid recordmember. The solenoid 19 may also be air operated with air pressurized bya pump or fan connected to the interior volume 21.

The transducer assembly 16 or a modified form thereof may be employed tosupport and selectively pivot one or more transducers with respect toselected magnetic recording tracks of a magnetic tape, rigid or flexibledisc or card. In FIGS. 4 and 5 is shown a disc drive for a flexible orrigid magnetic recording disc 50. The disc drive assembly 30 issupported on a base 31 which supports a constant speed gear motor (notshown) and a turntable 31R supporting the record disc 50 beneath anassembly including a support 35 for a lineal bearing 33 supporting anarm 34 for radial movement therethrough with respect to the rotatingdisc 50. Supported at the end of arm 34 is a housing 40, equivalent tohousing 16 and containing similar components including a magnetictransducer 17 or a bank of transducers which may be projected towardsand away from the magnetic recording surface of the disc and rotatedbetween two or more angular positions as described above. Supported onthe housing for bearing 33 is a reversible gear motor 38 and a drive 36operable to permit such motor to rapidly drive the arm 34 to positionthe transducer 17 in operable alignment with any selected track of thedisc. Conventional drive and control means may be employed for effectingrapid controlled reverse drive of the arm 34 across the rotatingmagnetic disc 50. Magnetic transducer assembly 16 is supported in ahousing 40 which positions the end of the magnetic transducer 17 or aplurality of transducers immediately above, floating or in engagementwith the upper surface of the magnetic disc 50 to permit it toselectively transduce different recordings from the same length of theselect circular record tracks, as described above, by the controlled andselective rotation of the transducer between two or more rotationalpositions.

The above-described lineal and/or rotational driving movements and theselective positioning of the transducer, as well as the other operationsof the described magnetic transducing apparatus, are preferably allunder the control of an electronic computer or micro-processor, so as toeffect the selective recording and/or playback of data with respect tothe magnetic recording member.

In FIG. 6 is shown a portion of a magnetic head 100 composed of one ormore arrays of magnetic transducers supported by a substrate 100S, whichis supported adjacent a magnetic record member, as described, forrecording on and/or reproducing record signals from a magnetic recordcard, tape or disc. Two magnetic heads 101 and 106 are shown with theirmagnetic pole pieces 102, 104 and 107, 109 aligned and at right anglesto the pole pieces of the other. Notations 103, 105, 108 and 110 referto tapered portions of respective of the pole pieces 102, 104, 107 and109, the ends of which define the respective transducing gaps of theheads 101 and 106. Both heads thus share a common gap area or volumeacross which respective magnetic fields or flux lines are generated atright angles to each other so as to provide respective arrays ofmagnetic domains in the same recording track of the magnetic recordmember scanned by the head 100. Each of the arrays contains domainswhich are angled or azimuthed at a right angle to the longitudinal axisof the other domains formed by the magnetic field of the other head. Themagnetic transducers 101 and 106 may be formed by so-called thin filmfabrication techniques of Permalloy magnetostrictive materials, such asvapor deposited iron-manganese or nickel-iron alloys, as described inthe March 1982 and March 1984 issues of the Journal of Applied Physicsand may be but one pair of a plurality of closely pairs of similarlyconstructed assembly of magnetic transducers.

Each of the transducers 101 and 106 may be simultaneously and/orsequentially energized with respective streams of digital data for thesimultaneous or sequential recording of the different programs, messagesor streams of information along the same end or different portions ofthe same magnetic record track.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified form of the magnetic transducingarrangement of FIG. 6, and schematically shows the attitude of twomagnetic transducers 113 and 116 which are formed on a common substrate,as described, closely adjacent to each other. The transducers areoperable to record respective signals or trains of data along the samerecord track, the axis of which track is denoted CST. One transducer 113is formed of aligned magnetic pole pieces 112 and 114 having a magneticrecording and/or reproduction transducing gap 115 separating theoperating ends of such pole pieces. Such transducer is angled on itssupport to provide the longitudinal axis or azimuth of the gap 115 at anacute angle which is clockwise of the track axis CST. The othertransducer 116 is disposed on the same support or head substrate withits pole pieces 117 and 17A separated by a transducing gap 118 with itsaxis at an acute counterclockwise angle to the longitudinal axis CST ofthe same track. The magnetic domains thus aligned or formed along thesame record track by respective pulses of magnetic field energy acrossthe two gaps are thus at respective azimuths or angles which are suchthat they may be separately reproduced from the same length of recordtrack by respective magnetic reproduction transducers angled as in FIG.7. As in FIG. 6, a plurality of additional pairs of similarly disposedtransducers for recording on and/or reproducing from the same lengths ofthe same record track of a magnetic record member may be provided on acommon support or substrate to provide a bank or banks of suchtransducers which may be used with the apparatus described above ormodifications thereof.

In FIG. 9 is shown a transducer arrangement composed of two transducers124 and 128 which are supported on a common substrate as described.Transducer 124 has pole pieces 125, 126 separated by a gap 127 forrecording and/or reproducing signals in the form of domains in themagnetic recording material of a selected track ST of a magnetic recordmember as described. The magnetic domains are formed at an azimuth angleor are angulated at an acute angle which is clockwise of the centerlineCST of the selected record track. Transducer 128 has the centerline ofits gap 131 offset from the centerline of the gap 127 of transducer 124,a degree less than the width of a record track and is angulated at anacute angle which is counterclockwise to the longitudinal axis CST ofthe selected magnetic record track. The two transducers may thus beemployed to provide respective arrays of magnetic domains, certain orall of which partly overlay, as shown in FIG. 12. The substrate orsupport containing the transducers 124 and 128 may contain a pluralityof such pairs of offset or staggered transducers in side-by-side,closely spaced arrays and or additional transducers of the same arraywhich are additionally offset and differently angled with respect to thelongitudinal recording axis of a track or closely spaced parallel tracksof a magnetic record member.

FIG. 10 shows an array of seven transducers denoted131,133,135,137,139,141 and 143, closely supported on a common head orsubstrate and having respective signal recording and/or reproductiongaps denoted 132,134,136,138,140,142 and 144 which are longitudinallyaligned to record along a common magnetic record track. However, each ofthe seven transducers and its gap is angulated differently from theothers to provide respectively angulated arrays of magnetic domainsalong the same length of a record track, each of which arrays may beseparately detected by a magnetic pick-up having a respectively alignedmagnetic field gap. As in FIG. 9, two or more of the multipletransducers of FIG. 10 may be offset from the others to providerespective arrays of magnetic domains, as recordings, which partiallyoverlap.

In FIG. 11 is shown two separate recordings along the same length of asingle magnetic track of a magnetic record member formed by transducingarrangements of FIGS. 6 or 7 or of those of FIGS. 8 and 10 when two ofthe recording transducers thereof are separately energized with pulserecording information such as digital recording signals. The recordmember 145 has a record track ST, the centerline CST of which is alignedwith the recording axis of a plurality of magnetic transducers, such as113 and 116, which respectively receive and are energized withrespective streams of digital data or pulses defining respectiverecordings to be made. Gaps 115 or 144 may be employed, for example, torecord a plurality of domains 146 extending at one angle to axis CSTafter gaps 118 or 132 have recorded a plurality of spaced-apart domains147 which define a recording different from the recording defined by theoverlapping domains 146. Depending upon the timing and nature of thedigital code recordings provided by each transducer, not all of thedomains will overlap, as illustrated. Some domains will be completelyspaced apart, as shown, while other will overlap different degrees, butno two overlapping domains will completely cover or mask the other, thuspermitting each domain to be detected or sensed by a properly alignedpick-up or reproduction head.

In FIG. 12 a record track ST of a record member 145 is shown containingtwo arrays of domains 148 and 149, the latter being first recorded alongthe left side portion of the track after which the array of domains 148are recorded along the right side portion of the same track such as bystaggered transducers arranged as illustrated in FIG. 9. Here again, thedegree of overlapping will depend on the timing and nature of thedigital or code signals of each recording or message applied to therespective transducers, and certain of the domains will be free ofoverlapping when recorded while the transducer for recording thedifferently angled adjacent domain array is not energized. The recordingarrangement shown in FIG. 12 may be modified to provide additionalarrays of adjacent domains at angles which are different than thoseshown. Left and right side domain arrays may also be formed of domainswhich are parallel and or laterally aligned for detection byrespectively staggered pick-ups with suitably directed detectionmagnetic field gaps.

In FIG. 13 is shown a pulse recording at a single recording location.The recording is composed of either four domains 150,151,152,153, oreight domains, the longitudinal axes of which extend through a point orcommon recording area of a select record track ST of a magnetic recordmember 145. Each of the differently angulated transducers, such asillustrated in FIG. 10, or by a single pivotable transducer of the typeshown in FIG. 3 during consecutive scanning sweeps of the track ST whilethe transducer thereof is driven to a different recording angle by aselectively operated stepping motor or solenoid, as previouslydescribed, forms domains which can be individually detected by aproperly aligned pickup or reproduction head.

FIG. 14 illustrates yet another arrangement of magnetic transducers on acommon substrate for providing plural magnetic recordings along the samelength of magnetic record track with one or both recordings formed ofmagnetic domains which overlap the domains or recordings of the other.Two magnetic transducers 155 and 159 are shown, each composed ofrespective pairs of pole pieces 156, 157 and 160, 161 which are alignedwith each other and extend parallel to the aligned pole pieces of theother. However, the gaps 158 and 162 of the respective heads areangulated with respect to each other and are aligned so as to providerespective recordings which extend along the same track and may overlapbut are separately detectable by respective pick-ups or sensors of thesame or different heads.

FIG. 15 shows a magnetic recording transducer 163 and a magneticreproduction transducer or pick-up 167 respectively formed of polepieces 164,165 and 168,169 supported on a common substrate or head, asdescribed, and extending substantially parallel and close to each otherin the manner such that the recording gap 166 of the recordingtransducer 163 extends in the same direction as the sensing or pick-upgap 170 of the reproduction transducer 167. In other words, both gapsare similarly angulated with respect to the longitudinal axis of acommon record track of a magnetic record member when the record memberand the head or substrate supporting the two transducers are properlyaligned for scanning by either or both said transducers during arecording and/or reproduction operation. The width of the recording gap166 is shown as less than the width of the reproduction gap 170 inaccordance with known design practice and requirements for effectingsuitable magnetic recording along narrow record tracks of magneticrecording members such as tape, discs and cards.

A plurality of closely spaced pairs of magnetic recording andreproduction transducers may be provided aligned or offset asillustrated in substitution for each or a select number of the singlemagnetic transducers illustrated.

In a particular method of recording and reproducing digital data in theform of streams of digital codes, such as binary codes and the like,along a selected track or tracks of a magnetic record member, a singlemessage or stream of such digital data may be simultaneously applied totwo recording transducers, the recording gaps of which arelongitudinally aligned with the recording track but differentlyangulated, as in FIG. 7, to permit the simultaneous recording of thesame data along the same track and in the form of respective arrays ofdomains. The domains are respectively angulated and overlap as in FIG.11 to 13 so as to permit the recordings of each array to besimultaneously reproduced and compared in an electronic comparator toprovide a parity check or system for automatically ascertaining ifdigital data is properly recorded. As a result, the need for extrarecording tracks is eliminated as the two arrays of recordings arerecorded along the same length or lengths of the same track andselectively reproduced therefrom as described.

FIGS. 6-15 may also schematically represent recording arrangementsrelating to the electro-optical recording and reproduction of coded orbinary or decimal information provided by one or more laser beams whichare pulsed in their operation, either while fixed with respect to therecord member or during scanning movement thereacross, in a manner tophysically or chemically change selected spot-like areas of a recordmember at selected recording locations, as effected, for example, bymeans of the apparatus disclosed in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,818,500;4,084,198; 4,121,249; 4,398,223; and 4,511,930 or other patents whichrelate to and define laser recording and the electro-opticalreproduction of such recordings on discs, tapes, cards and the like.Such spot-like recordings are generally elongated in shape and have beendefined by elongated cavities formed by vaporizing material of thesurface stratum of a record member, or a layer therebelow.

Accordingly, the apparatus 10 of FIGS. 1-3, the apparatus illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5 and that shown in FIGS. 6-10 may be modified whereby themagnetic transducers thereof are each replaced by one or more lasersincluding a recording laser and means for generating its recording lightbeam as a pulse of radiation having a defined cross-sectional shape suchas to produce elongated pulse recordings along record members of thetypes generally illustrated in FIGS. 11-15 or otherwise shaped cavitiesor recordings which may be selectively discriminated from each other bymeans of a single electro-optical receiver and detector which isselectively rotatable on a mount, as described, or by means ofrespective of a plurality of different photo-electric detectors, each ofwhich is operable to detect a light reflected from reading laser thereofwhen it intersects a respectively oriented elongated pulse recording ofthe types illustrated in the drawings. In other words, each of theillustrated transducers of the drawings may be replaced by a respectiverecording laser and/or a respective electro-optical scanning means whichmay include such laser or another laser together with a photoelectricdetector of the reflected light.

Such recording beam may have an elongated narrow cross-section whichresults in cavities or otherwise provided recordings havingconfigurations and attitudes somewhat like those illustrated in FIGS.11-15. Detection and discrimination of such differently angulatedelongated pulse recordings as information may be effected in one or moremanners, including, in addition to the selective electro-opticaldetection of each oriented pulse recording by a selectively orientedelectro-optical scanning means, an optical correlation system whichrecognizes each selectively oriented pulse recording to the exclusion ofthe others as scanning is effected or each of a plurality of pulserecordings which is of a different shape than the other pulse recordingsexisting along a record track of the record member which is scannedduring playback.

Laser generated cavity pulse recordings of the types described may alsobe selectively varied in shape and/or orientation by providingdifferently shaped and/or differently oriented openings of the sameshape in a disc shaped mask which is either continuously or selectivelyrotated through the axis of a laser beam while the beam is controllablypulsed when select openings of select shape or orientation are alignedwith the beam axis. Such a system employs a master controller orcomputer to control relative scanning movement between the beam and therecord member, the timed pulsing of the laser and the rotation of themask disc. Additionally, a feedback signal may be provided indicatingthe rotation of the mask to effect such select cavity recordings.

RECORDING TECHNIQUES

The following recording techniques may be employed to effect opticallyor electro-optically scannable pulse recordings along a record track ofa record member of the types illustrated, but not confined to, FIGS.11-15 of the drawings:

1. The beam is generated as a pulse of circular or otherwise symmetricalcross-sectional shape and is caused to move a short distance in a givendirection at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the record track as itis generated, so as to form differently shaped cavities or recordingconfigurations in the record member for each pulse or decimal recording.A plurality of such differently shaped pulse recordings may be providedat each recording location, each of which is optically orelectro-optically discriminable from the other pulse recordings thereatby suitable optical correlation or electro-optical scanning mean.

2. The beam is generated with a narrow line-like cross-sectional shape,the longitudinal axis of which extends at a selected angle to thedirection of the record track or track axis during scanning so as toprovide the recordings as respective cavities of elongated shapes, suchas shown in FIGS. 11-15 of the drawings.

3. The pulses of recording radiation are generated with across-sectional shape which varies in a manner such that, when twodifferent recordings are effected with pulses of each recorded at thesame spot-like locations of pulses of other recordings, the resultingcomposite pulse recordings may be electro-optically discriminated fromeach other by one or more techniques, including detecting a selectportion or portions of each recording to the exclusion of the remainingportion of such spot-like recording, optically and/or electronicallydiscriminating the shape of one spot-like recording from another,discriminating variations in color or reflectivity of one spot-likerecording from another to others of such spot-like recordings, etc. Suchoptical and/or electronic discriminating techniques may be supplementedwith the optical and/or electronic detection of the length or degree ofangulation of each spot-like recording which is scanned and detected toadd to the variations in information recorded and detected.

4. Where recordings are effected which are defined by spot-like areas ofa record member or track thereof which vary in shape and/or angulationwith respect to the longitudinal axis of a record member, suchvariations may be optically discriminated to provide respectiveelectrical signals representing different data or recordings, such asmessages and programs, by so called optical correlation means whereinthe optical image or a select portion of each spot-like recording iscompared with a corresponding image or images derived from a mask orwindow of a select shape or an optical recording or memory from whichthe scanning light is reflected or through which it passes. Such memorymay comprise a photoelectric detector of select shape or masked withsuch a select shape defining the mask opening or blocking area, suchthat the output thereof is either maximum or zero when correlationoccurs between the image of the select spot-like recording and theactive or deactivated area of the mask. Such selectivity shaped mask ordetector may be selectively rotated about an axis by a automaticallycontrolled mechanism, such as shown in FIG. 3, or may be one of aplurality of detectors fixed on a mount, each specifically shaped tooptically or electro-optically detect and discriminate spot-likerecordings of the same shapes and/or angulation with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the record track of the record member containingthe recordings.

5. If the reading radiation beam is of a select cross-sectional shapecorresponding to the shape of select pulse recordings provided along asingle record track being reproduced from, or corresponding to thosepulse recordings which are similarly angled with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the record member, then when such reading beamintersects an area of the record member containing a similarly shapedpulse recording, the light thereof may be totally absorbed, diffractedor reflected depending on the type of recording, and such condition maybe electro-optically and electronically detected to effect detection ofthe presence of the select pulse recording to the exclusion of otherpulse recordings of different shape and/or angulation.

6. In other embodiments of the invention, a record member such as acard, sheet, tape, or disc may contain a recording layer or stratumcapable of containing a plurality of different data recordings therein,such as one or more forms of magnetic recordings effected by one or moretechniques and a laser beam generated recording, such as cavities of thetype or types described above. Such record member may have, as an outerlayer or a layer beneath the surface thereof, a magnetic recordingmaterial composed of closely spaced magnetic particles in athermoplastic resin binder operable to provide a cavity or pit thereinwhen subject to an intense pulse of laser radiation or the like. Such arecord member may be subject to the following recording techniques, oneor more of which may be utilized per record member to increase therecording density and/or permit two or more reproduction transducers orscanners to be employed for reading at one time or at different timesdepending on the availability of each:

a) A pulse laser beam may form a cavity or pit in the surface stratum orthrough the recording layer of binder and magnetic particles. Therecordings may be read by electro-optically sensing the pits or cavitiesor by a magnetic pick-up sensing the lack of magnetic field caused byeach cavity when a uniformly magnetized layer is so formed withrecording cavities.

b) A pulsed laser beam may also be employed to selectively dischargeselect spot-like areas of a uniformly magnetized magnetic recordinglayer or stratum coated on or laminated to the record member substrateto effect such pulse recording with heat.

c) A conventional magnetic recording transducer or head engaging ordisposed close to the surface of the record member may be pulsemodulated with electrical signals for effecting pulse recordings of thetypes described in the magnetic recording layer of the record member byselectively orienting spot-like portions of the magnetic recordingmaterial.

Two or three of the recording techniques described above may be employedwith respect to a single record member to provide a plurality ofdifferent recordings which may be read by either or both anelectro-optical reader and a magnetic transducing arrangement. Dependingon the type(s) and arrangement of recording transducers, such differentrecordings may be effected simultaneously and/or sequentially along thesame or different record tracks of the record member, and may be readsimultaneously and/or sequentially by the same reading unit or bydifferent reading units.

d) While a magnetic pick-up may be employed which will read any of thethree types of recordings described in the magnetic layer of the recordmember, a laser beam reading arrangement using a photoelectric detectorof reflected radiation may be employed to detect recordings defined bymicrocavities formed by the same or another laser and, in certainarrangements, may also be employed to detect and read recordings definedby variations in magnetic domain orientation or disorientation due tolaser heating of a microminiature area of the magnetic layer using apulsed laser beam generated by a computer controlled laser insynchronization with the relative movement between the record member andthe beam axis.

7. In yet another embodiment of the invention, magnetic or opticallyreadable recordings may be recorded along one or more tracks of a recordmember, such as a tape, card or disc, in the form of spot or pulserecordings which may be varied in alignment and/or shape as described soas to magnetically or optically discriminated at each pulse or spotlocation of the record track by a single magnetic or electro-opticalpick-up. A magnetic pick-up, for example, which has its pole piecedefining gap aligned at a select angle with respect to the magneticrecord track being scanned, will sense each domain recording it scansand the intensity or amplitude of the signal generated by such pick-upas it scans a pulse recording will be a function of the angle at whichthe magnetic domain extends with respect to the direction or axis of thetrack. If the recording means is such as to provide, for example, pulserecordings defined by domains which may be variably applied to extend atleast eight different angles to the longitudinal axis of the recordingtrack, then essentially what is derived is the ability to record aselect on eight different bits of information, or a byte of information,at each recording location or spot of the record track, each of whichdifferently angulated recordings may be detected and discriminated fromthe others at such location by the amplitude of the pulse signal outputby the pick-up when scanning such recording location. Similarly, if eachspot recording is of a shape which is optically discriminable from sevenother shapes which may be recorded at each spot location, its shape maybe electro-optically detected by suitable electro-optical scanning meansand indicated by the amplitude or other characteristic of the pulsesignal output by the scanning mean so as to provide a byte ofinformation at each spot recording location of the record member,thereby greatly increasing the recording density of the record member.If such electro-optically scannable recording is defined by recordingsof the types illustrated in the drawings which are elongated in shapeand vary in angle to the axis of the record track, then a photoelectricdetector or cell with a fixed similarly shaped aperture will outputsignals which vary in accordance with the angle of the pulse recordingand eight differently angulated pulse recordings may be provided, one ateach recording location, to define essentially a byte of information ateach location.

8. In a particular form of the invention defined in the precedingparagraph, ten differently shaped or angulated spot-like recordings mayeach represent one of the numerical characters 1 to 9 and 0, and/ortwenty six alphabetical characters, such as the letters A to Z of theEnglish language, to permit each spot-like recording to represent and beeasily read as an alpha-numeric character to define respective digitalinformation in numerical representing form, and words of speechrecordings which do not require costly reading and electronic analyzingmeans to discriminate characters. Combinations of spot-like recordingsdefining both select alphabetic and numeric characters and binaryindications of numbers may also be employed in the form of magneticdomains which ar varied in their alignment with respect to the axis ofthe record member, and/or optically or electro-optically scannablerecordings which vary in shape and/or angle to the axis of the recordtrack. Thus both the decimal and binary systems may be employed asrecordings on the same record member along respective or separate tracksthereof.

In FIG. 16 certain details are shown of the hereinbefore described formof the invention wherein either variably shaped microminiature indiciaare disposed along parallel record tracks of a rigid or flexible disc,tape or card, or microminiature elongated pulses or indicia of the typesshown in FIGS. 6 to 15 are recorded along a record track or tracks atpredetermined locations thereof, and the particular angle or orientationof each elongated recorded indicia defines a particular code or bytevalue. For example, in a conventional byte data system, eight or tenbits in parallel or series, with each bit spaced apart from the others,may define a particular byte of data or a select digit of a ten digitnumber. If eight or ten differently shaped indicia are recordable at aselect recording location of a record track wherein each shape iselectro-optically or optically detectable and discriminated from theother shapes, such as when an electro-optical detector generates aelectrical code which is different from the electrical codes generatedwhen it detects others of the microminiature shapes during a scanningoperation, then such code or signals derived therefrom may define aparticular byte of data in an information system. Similarly, the opticalor electro-optical detection of the angles of elongated microminiaturerecordings of the types shown in FIGS. 6 to 15 may be employed togenerate different bytes of data or codes depending on the angles atwhich such recordings are disposed with respect to the axis of therecord track containing same.

In FIG. 16, an electro-optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus200 includes an arm 34A pivotally or otherwise movably supported above arecord disc 50A as part of an assembly which is similar to that shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. Supported at the end of arm 34A is an assembly 201including a housing 201H containing a laser 202 operable under controlof an input controller 203 to generate and pass pulses of laserradiation from an output 204 thereof. Although not necessary in a basicform of the embodiment, a deflection system 205 is shown beyond theoutput 204 of the laser for receiving and controllably deflecting thelaser beam B to cause it to scan different portions of a mask 206 topass the beam through select mask windows or openings of differentselect shapes or orientations located along different circular tracks ofthe mask. The mask is a flat disc rotated at high speed about itscentral axis by a gear motor 207 which supports a platform on its shaft,on which platform the disc shaped mask is supported. If the disc 206 hasa sufficient number of shaped or differently oriented mask openingsalong a single circular track thereof, the beam deflection system 205may be eliminated.

After passing through a select opening in the mask 206, the beam B, inthe recording mode, is directed through a focusing or output lens system212 against that portion of the rotating disc 50A which the scanningaxis of the operating head assembly is aligned with, thereby effecting amicrominiature recording in a recording layer 50R of the disc, such asthe outer layer thereof which is sensitive to such selectively shapedpulse of light energy. If the pulse of high-energy laser radiationpassed through the select opening in the mask 206 is of short enoughduration with respect to the rotational speed of the disc 50A, thespot-like recording effected by such pulse will be substantially thecross-sectional shape of the radiation pulse or a modified form thereofwhich is different from the micro-recordings formed in recording layer50R by pulses of similar duration radiation shape formed by passing suchpulses through respective differently shaped openings in the mask 206.

During the reproduction mode of operation, laser 202 or a differentlaser (not shown) in housing 201H may be employed to generate acontinuous beam of lower intensity than the recording beam, which beam Bis passed though a half silvered mirror 208 along the scanning axis ofthe head 201 while the mask disc 206 is eliminated or stopped in amanner to permit a large opening or window thereof to pass the beam Bunaffected by the mask to the output optics 212 against a select trackof the recording layer 50R of the disc 50A. Reflections of the light ofthe beam B after it has intersected respective recordings of differentor differently oriented microrecordings, are passed through the opticsof lens system 212 against the reflecting surface of mirror 208, fromwhich such light is reflected to an input 209 of a photoelectricdetector 210. The photoelectric detector 210 may comprise a singlephotoelectric cell or an array of microminiature cells operable togenerate electrical signals which vary in accordance with the shape ofthe recording area being scanned with the laser radiation and defined bythe physical characteristic of the reflected light. Such variablesignals may be computer processed and analyzed to automatically provideelectrical code signals on an output which code signals define thedifferently shaped or oriented (spot-like) microminiature indiciascanned with the reading laser light for use in an information storageand reproduction system employing the coded data to be generated.

In a modified form, FIG. 16 shows a motor or solenoid 211 operating amask 209 to selectively position differently shaped openings or windowsof the mask in line with an aperture for the photoelectronic detector ordetectors 210 so as to provide a simple means for optically correlatingor discriminating recordings of different select shapes. However, suchmotor and mask 209 may be eliminated if an array of microminiature solidstate photoelectric diodes or the like defines the photoelectricdetector 210 and may discriminate different recording shapes ororientations by the electrical signals output thereby to a computer foranalysis.

In a modified form of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the beamdeflection system 205 may be disposed in the housing 212 or thereaboveto selectively deflect the read and/or write beam radially with respectto the rotating disc and arm assembly 34A to permit rapid radialscanning of data on two or more parallel circular tracks of the disc50A.

In the automatic operation of apparatus 200, a computer (not shown) isemployed to control the pulsed operation of laser 202, the beamdeflection system 205 (when utilized), the motor 211, etc. in accordancewith the movement and/or track location of arm 34A and the rotation ofthe disc 50A which may be determined by detecting select indicia orcodes recorded in the recording layer 50R, or by counting pulsesgenerated by one more angular resolvers driven by the means rotatingdisc 50A and arm 34A.

9. In still another form of the invention, automatic scanning, detectionand discrimination of any of the described variably oriented or variablyshaped indicia recordings may be more easily effected by effectingcontrolled vibrational movement of the scanning transducer, such as amagnetic head, a laser or an optical component such as a mirror orprison which received the laser light beam and directs same against themagnetic or optical record track containing such recordings closelyspaced from each other. For example, the light beam may be laterallyvibrated at high frequency laterally back and forth with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the record track while either the beam or therecord member is driven to effect scanning movement along or parallel tothe record track being scanned. The light reflected from the recordtrack and areas adjacent thereto may photo-electrically detected by oneor more photoelectric cells, such as an array of microminiature solidstate photodetectors, wherein the output electrical signals are computerprocessed and analyzed in a manner to detect the orientation and/orshape of each indicia, and thus discriminate the various indicia fromeach other as described above. Such transducer or mirror vibration maybe effected, for example, by means of a piezoelectric transducer whichis mechanically coupled or suitable secured to the scanning transducer,mirror or prism in a manner to effect its vibration at the frequency thepiezoelectric transducer is vibrated or a harmonic thereof depending onthe mechanical arrangement.

For bit recordings in the range of 10,000 to 50,000 per inch or greater,longitudinal scanning speeds in the range of five to fifty feet persecond will require vibrational frequencies to be varied between 50,000and 1,000,000 cycles per second to properly laterally scan each bitrecording by such technique.

10. In yet another embodiment, ultra-high density recording of the typesdescribed may be effected in a film of metal, such as copper disposedagainst a rigid or floppy disc shaped substrate by vacuum deposition,wherein the surface of such film is formed of finely divided coppercrystals and the recordings in one or more tracks thereof are formed bylaser beam pitting, or a thin transparent plastic or ceramic coatingthereon and having opaque or light diffusing areas for absorbing ordiffusing reading laser light directed as a narrow beam thereagainst.The recordings may also be formed of tiny, three-dimensional crystals ofsilver controllably added to the copper film, which silver crystals maybe several atoms or more across and which, during reproduction scanningwith a laser light beam, serve as microscopic antennas and broadcastlight at the second harmonic frequency in a process which is moreefficient than light broadcast from the original smooth copper surface.By employing a suitable photoelectric detector or microminiature arraythereof in combination with suitable micro-optics, such micro-crystalrecordings may be electro-optically detected at a much higher densitythan conventional micro-image recordings, such as micro-cavityrecordings are provided and detected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data transducing apparatus comprising:a) afirst support, b) first means supported by said first support forsupporting a record number, c) second means supported by said firstsupport for generating and directing a beam of recording radiationagainst a record member supported by said first support and forrecording a plurality of closely spaced discrete indicia along a selectportion of a record track of said record member, wherein such indiciaare substantially equispaced from each other and wherein certain of saiddiscrete indicia have unique shapes relative to others of said indicia,d) third means for generating and directing a beam of reading radiationat said record member and for effecting relative scanning movementbetween said beam and said record track containing said indicia to causesaid reading radiation beam to scan said record track and reflect fromsaid plurality of discrete indicia recorded therealong, e) fourth meansfor electro-optically detecting reflections of said reading radiationbeam from said record track and for generating information signals whichvary in a accordance with variations in the shapes of the indiciascanned by said reading radiation, and f) fifth means for processing andanalyzing said information signals generated by said fourth means andfor generating coded electrical signals indicative of the informationdefined by said information signals.
 2. A data transducing apparatus inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a laser,further including means for deflecting the beam of said laser to permitit to scan various areas of said record member along said record track.3. A data transducing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidsecond means includes a mask containing a plurality of differentlyshaped window portions which are smaller than the cross section of saidrecording radiation beams, said mask being located to receive theradiation of said beam, and further including means for controllingrelative movement between said mask and said recording radiation beambefore said beam intersects said record member to cause said beam topass through select window portions of said mask and change the shape ofthe beam passing through said mask to said record member.
 4. A datatransducing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a movablemask associated with said fourth means for discriminating the radiationreflected from said record member to said means for electro-opticallydetecting said radiation, and sixth means for controllably varying therelative positioning of said electro-optical means during a scanningoperation.
 5. A data transducing apparatus in accordance with claim 1wherein said record member is a disc, and further comprising means forpower rotating said disc on said first support, an arm supported formovement across said disc on said first support as said disc is rotated,and wherein said second and third means are supported at the end of saidarm.
 6. A data transducing apparatus in accordance with claim 1including means for oscillating said beam of reading radiation lateralto said record track of said record member.
 7. A data transducingapparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said record member iscoated with a thin film of a first metal, and crystals of a second metalare formed on a surface of said first metal film as crystal formationsdefining a separate recording indicia, and wherein said fourth means isoperable to detect individual of said indicia.
 8. A data transducingapparatus comprising:a) a first support, b) first means supported bysaid first support for supporting a record member, c) second meanssupported by said first support for generating and directing a beam ofrecording radiation against a record member supported by said firstsupport and for recording a plurality of closely spaced discrete indiciaalong a select portion of a record track of said record member, whereinsuch indicia are substantially equispaced from each other, are ofelongated configurations of substantially similar shape, and whereincertain of said indicia are differently angled with respect to the axisof said record track than the angles of others of said indicia, d) thirdmeans for generating and directing a beam of reading radiation at saidrecord member and for effecting relative scanning movement between saidbeam and said record track containing said indicia to cause saidradiation beam to scan said record member and reflect from the indiciarecorded therealong, and e) fourth means for electro-optically detectingreflections of said radiation of said reading radiation beam from saidrecord track and for generating information signals which vary in aaccordance with variations in the angles between the longitudinal axesof said indicia and the axis of said record track.
 9. A data transducingapparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said record membercomprises an erasable record disc and said first means is operable torotate said disc, and further comprising an arm supporting said second,third and fourth means, and means for guiding said arm across a rotatingrecord member, power operated means for driving said arm across saidrecord member to permit the radiation generated by said second and thirdmeans to scan a select track of said record member and means forreceiving and processing electrical signals generated by said fourthmeans and for generating data defined by select indicia scanned by saidreading radiation beam.
 10. A method for transducing information withrespect to record members comprising:a) generating a first beam ofradiation, which radiation beam has a first elongated cross-section fordefining the shape of a recording to be made therewith, b) effectingfirst controlled relative scanning movement between said first radiationbeam and a select track of a record member while controllably pulsingsaid beam to cause said beam to intermittently effect a plurality ofspace separated indicia recordings in a plurality of select recordinglocations of the material of said select track of said record member,which recordings are defined by first elongated indicia configurationswhich extend at a first angle to the longitudinal axis of said selectrecord track, c) thereafter again effecting controlled relative scanningmovement between said radiation beam and said select record track ofsaid record member to cause said radiation beam to intersect selectfurther recording locations of said record member to provide secondrecordings in the recording material of said select track of said recordmember, which second recordings have shapes which extend at secondangles to the longitudinal axis of said select track.
 11. A method inaccordance with claim 10 wherein said first and second recordings areeffected by the same radiation beam.
 12. A method in accordance withclaim 10 wherein said first and second recordings are effected by thesame radiation beam during a single scanning sweep of said select trackof said record member.
 13. A method in accordance with claim 10 whereinsaid first and second recordings are effected by the same radiation beamduring respective different scanning sweeps of said select track of saidrecord member.
 14. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein saidfirst and second recordings are effected by the same radiation beams,each having substantially the same cross sectional shape but angleddifferently with respect to the longitudinal axis of said record member.15. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first and secondrecordings are effected by rotating the same radiation beam about theaxis along which it is generated to vary the angle of the elongatedrecordings effected along said record track between said longitudinalaxis of said select track and to thereby effect said first and secondrecordings.
 16. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said firstand second recordings are effected by the same radiation byautomatically rotating said beam about its longitudinal axis so as tocause the elongated areas of said record member intersected by said beamto be selectively changed in its attitude with respect to thelongitudinal axis of said select record track.
 17. A method inaccordance with claim 10 wherein said first and second recordings areeffected by the same radiation beam by automatically causing said beamto scan during each pulsing of said beam whereby the scanning movementof said beam during each pulsing thereof is in a direction lateral tothe longitudinal axis of said record track.
 18. A method in accordancewith claim 10 further comprising the step of reproducing selected ofsaid first and second recordings by electro-optically scanning anddiscriminating said first from said second recordings by detecting oneof said recordings to the exclusion of the others.
 19. A method inaccordance with claim 10 further comprising the step of reproducingselected of said first and second recordings, and discriminating onefrom the other by electro-optically detecting each of said recordings asrespective trains of pulse signals and electronically discriminatingeach of said pulse trans form the other.
 20. A method for transducinginformation with respect to a record member comprising:a) subjecting amagnetic recording layer of a record member to the heat of a pulsed beamof radiation and effecting a first recording along a select portion of aselect record track of said record member, b) subjecting said magneticrecord layer of said record member to a pulsed, limited magnetic fieldand effecting a pulse magnetic recording wherein by selectivelyorienting an area of the magnetic recording layer, and c) reproducinginformation from said record member by scanning selected of therecordings provided therein with a magnetic pick-up and generatingoutput electrical signals defining said recordings.
 21. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the step of reproducing information from said recordmember further comprises scanning selected of the recordings providedtherein with a photoelectric detection means.
 22. A system for recordingdata on a record member having at least one record track, comprising:(a)a transducer having a magnetic recording head disposed at its operativeend; (b) support means for supporting the transducer so that therecording head is positioned inclose operable relationship with therecord member; (c) means for pivotally coupling the transducer to thesupport means so that the recording head can be rotated about analignment axis which extends from the transducer to the surface of therecord member; (c) control means for selectively rotating andpositioning the recording head at selected rotational angles relative tothe alignment axis; and (d) means for energizing the recording headwhile it is positioned at each of plural selected angles relative to thealignment axis to record corresponding plural groups of discrete datarecordings along the same length of the record track, wherein each groupof discrete data recordings is defined by plural magnetic domains formedparallel to each other and to its corresponding selected angle of therecording head.
 23. The system of claim 22 further comprising means forprojecting the transducer in the direction of the alignment axis to varythe placement of the recording head relative to the surface of therecord member.
 24. The system of claim 22 further comprising means forreading the plural discrete data recordings.
 25. The system of claim 22wherein the recording head of the transducer includes pole pieces and arecording gap having a longitudinal axis which defines the selectedrotational angle of the recording head relative to the alignment axis.26. The system of claim 25 wherein the control means rotates andpositions the recording head so that the recording gap defines twoselected angles relative to the alignment axis, the selected anglesbeing at right angles relative to each other.
 27. The system of claim 25wherein the energizing means is intermittently energized while therecording head is positioned at a first of the two selected angles tointermittently generate a magnetic field across the recording gap of thepole pieces in the vicinity of the surface of the record member, therebygenerating corresponding pulse recordings on the record member in theform of a plurality of closely spaced magnetic domains along a selectedlength of the record track, the longitudinal axes of the magneticdomains extending parallel to each other and to the first selected anglerelative to the alignment axis.
 28. The system of claim 27 wherein theenergizing means is intermittently energized while the recording head ispositioned at the second of the selected angles to intermittentlygenerate a magnetic field across the recording gap of the pole pieces inthe vicinity of the surface of the record member, thereby generatingcorresponding pulse recordings on the record member in the form of aplurality of closely spaced magnetic domains along the same selectedlength of the record track, the longitudinal axes of the magneticdomains extending parallel to each other and to the second selectedangle relative to the alignment axis.
 29. The system of claim 22 furthercomprising multiple transducers, and wherein the control meansselectively rotates and positions the recording head or each transducerat selected angles relative to a respective alignment axis extendingfrom each transducer to the surface of the record member.
 30. The systemof claim 29 wherein the respective alignment axis of each transducer isoffset from a longitudinal centerline of a recording track of thisrecord member.
 31. The system of claim 30 wherein the energizing meansincludes means for intermittently energizing each of the transducers toprovide respective offset arrays of magnetic domains on the sameselected length of the recording track.
 32. The system of claim 31wherein the respective arrays of magnetic domains at least partlyoverlap one another.
 33. The system of claim 22 further comprising:(a)means for supporting the record member; and (b) drive means for causingcontrolled relative movement between the record member and the recordinghead of the transducer.
 34. A system for recording data on a recordmember having at least one record track, comprising:(a) transducer meanshaving a recording head disposed at its operative end for mountingplural recording transducers thereon in close spaced relationship to oneanother and at unique axial angles relative to an alignment axisextending from the transducer means to the surface of the record member;(b) support means for supporting the transducer means so that therecording head is positioned in close operable relationship with therecord member; and (c) means for energizing selected ones of the pluraltransducers to record corresponding plural groups of discrete dataelements along the same length of the recording track, wherein eachgroup of discrete data elements comprises plural magnetic domains formedparallel to each other and to the unique axial angle of itscorresponding transducer.
 35. The system of claim 34 further comprisingmeans for projecting the transducer means in the direction of thealignment axis to alter the placement of the recording head relative tothe surface of the record member.
 36. The system of claim 34 whereineach of the plural recording transducers has a recording gap, andwherein the transducers are mounted with the recording gaps thereofaligned relative to a longitudinal axis of the recording track.
 37. Thesystem of claim 34 wherein each of the plural recording transducers hasa recording gap, and wherein the transducers are mounted with therecording gaps thereof offset relative to each other and a longitudinalaxis of the recording track.
 38. The system of claim 34 furthercomprising means for reading each of the plural discrete groups of dataelements recorded on the record member.
 39. The system of claim 34further comprising:(a) means for supporting the record member; and (b)drive means for causing controlled relative movement between the recordmember and the recording head of the transducer.
 40. A magneticrecording and reproduction apparatus comprising:(a) a record memberhaving at least one recording track thereon, the recording track havinga longitudinal axis and centerline, (b) a transducer assembly having arecording head disposed in close operational relationship to therecording member; (c) energizing means for generating a magnetic fieldat the recording head of the transducer; and (d) means for causing therecording head to record plural discrete groups of data elements alongthe same length of the recording track, wherein each discrete group ofdata elements is uniquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis andcenterline of the recording track.
 41. The apparatus of claim 40 furthercomprising means for reading from the recording track each of thediscrete groups of data elements.
 42. The apparatus of claim 40 whereinthe means for causing the recording head to record plural discretegroups of data elements along the same length of the recording trackcomprises:(a) means for selectively rotating the recording head about analignment axis extending from the transducer assembly to the surface ofthe record member; and (b) control means for selectively controlling theenergizing means to cause the recording head to record each discretegroup of data elements while the head is fixed at a unique anglerelative to the alignment axis.
 43. The apparatus of claim 42 furthercomprising:(a) means for supporting the record member, (b) drive meansresponsive to the control means for positioning a given length of therecording track in alignment with the recording head so that pluraldiscrete groups of data elements can be recorded thereon.
 44. Theapparatus of claim 40 wherein the transducer assembly includes pluraltransducers mounted on the recording head at unique axial anglesrelative to an alignment axis extending from the transducer to thesurface of the recording member.
 45. The apparatus of claim 44 whereinthe means for causing the recording head to record plural discretegroups of data elements along the same length of a recording trackincludes control means for controlling the energizing means to causeselected of the plural transducers to record corresponding groups ofdiscrete data elements at unique axial angles relative to the alignmentaxis.
 46. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the plural transducers aremounted offset from centerline of the recording track.
 47. The apparatusof claim 40 wherein said means for reading from the recording track eachof the discrete groups of data elements comprises a reproduction headmounted on the transducer assembly.
 48. The apparatus of claim 40wherein the recording member comprises a magnetic disc having pluralrecording tracks extending radially from the center thereof.
 49. Theapparatus of claim 48 further comprising means for aligning thetransducer assembly with selected tracks on the magnetic disc.
 50. Theapparatus of claim 45 wherein the control means causes the energizingmeans to simultaneously energize the plural transducers tosimultaneously record plural groups of discrete data elements.
 51. Theapparatus of claim 40 wherein the transducer assembly includes pluraltransducers mounted on the recording head so as to be offset from thelongitudinal axis and centerline of the recording track.
 52. Theapparatus of claim 51 wherein the means for causing the recording headto record plural discrete groups of data elements along the same lengthof recording track includes control means for controlling the energizingmeans to cause selected of the plural transducers to record on therecording track corresponding groups of discrete data elements offsetfrom the longitudinal centerline of the recording track.